Researchers from the University of Cambridge and GlitterinTech, a startup founded by the same research group, have unveiled a fundamentally new type of optical spectrometer that delivers laboratory-grade precision in a device small enough to be embedded in portable and wearable technologies. By rethinking how spectra are measured and processed, the team has demonstrated a spectrometer costing only around $10, operating at a centimeter scale, and capable of applications ranging from industrial quality control to real-time health care monitoring.
  • DrakeAlbrecht@lemmy.worldEnglish
    151·
    16 days ago

    Unlike conventional spectrometers, which rely on dispersing light or algorithmic reconstruction to recover spectra, the convolutional spectrometer physically performs a convolution operation on the incoming light. This is achieved using a simple cascade of optical components with periodic spectral responses, such as unbalanced Mach–Zehnder interferometers or micro-ring resonators.

    Is this thing a spectrometer or a fucking turbo encabulator?

    • davad@lemmy.worldEnglish
      15·
      16 days ago

      I’ve worked with spectrometers and on spectrometry design before, and that quote from the article is intelligible. It’s also pretentious and poorly explained.

    • Hacksaw@lemmy.caEnglish
      5·
      15 days ago

      I literally went onto the comments to post this exact comment about that exact paragraph. Love to see another enjoyer of side fumble prevention.